Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal moved a step closer to a Sunday showdown in the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters.

A day after the passing of his grandfather, the top ranked Djokovic brushed aside Robin Haase 6-4, 6-2. Djokovic was broken four times in the emotional win.

“I was very close to him, so it was a big loss for me and all the family,” reflected Novak of his grandfather. “But he’s with me, I know that, in spirit. I’m remembering only the nicest memories, and that’s what gave me strength to play yesterday and today.”

Djokovic will meet Tomas Berdych in the first semifinal tomorrow. The Czech improved to 4-2 lifetime after beating Andy Murray 6-7, 6-2, 6-3.

“Tomas has been playing well,” Djokovic said. “He’s an established top 10 player for the last couple of years. He’s a threat to anybody on any surface. Big groundstrokes, powerful serve. He knows what it feels like to play on the big stage. He had a great match against Andy today. Hit incredible shots from baseline. You know, it’s a big challenge for me to see if I’m able to keep the focus throughout the whole match because this is the only way I can actually get a win against Tomas. We’ll see if that’s going to happen. I’ll give my best.”

Djokovic has beaten Berdych eight of nine career meetings including the last seven times they’ve played.

“It’s a semifinal, which is fantastic,” said Berdych. “But still, you know, I want to play my best tennis and I want to do well. That’s it. I just want to focus for myself and do the best on court. The last time I played him, I was just one point to beat him and finish it. Didn’t happen. So now could be another try.”

In the second semifinal, Nadal meets the surprising Gilles Simon as both were 7-5, 6-4 winners on the day. Rafa collected his 40th straight win and 14th in a row on clay after topping Stanislas Wawrinka.

“Yesterday and today I improved the level,” said Nadal who seeks an 8th Monte Carlo title. “Today was a difficult match. I had before the match big respect for this afternoon. He arrived for the match playing I think great.

“I am happy about the way that I played. I’m in the semi-finals. That’s a fantastic news for me. Just looking forward to playing a good match tomorrow.”

Simon upset countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who couldn’t keep the ball in court racking up a multitude of errors. Simon, who is 1-4 career against Nadal, looks forward to his first meeting against Rafa on clay.

“I will try to enjoy my match tomorrow,” said Simon. “Of course, it’s going to be a very tough match. I want to take advantage as much as I can of this match. I beat him once, and it was an accomplishment already. So it would be an accomplishment any time I’d do it, but even more here on clay. Even if I lose, I want to play that match the best I can.”

In all probability it should be a Novak Vs Nadal final unless there is some major upset which I doubt will happen ? If the inevitable happens what a match that would be. In this court, you need to give the edge to Nadal against anyone he faces but not against Novak. I think the chances are even despite Novak beating Nadal seven consecutive times. If Novak is able to get over his personal loss, he should definitely make this a contest and the match should be much closer than what they had in 2009 when Nadal beat Novak in three. I would say 51:49 in favour of Novak. But that is very marginal.

I think Djokovic will be very motivated if he makes the final. He’s had to skip his grandfather’s funeral to continue in the tournament and he will want to play his best in order to live up to that sacrifice.

If he’s in the final there will be only one man standing between him and the trophy so he will be able to give it his all.

Winning the title and dedicating it to his grandfather would be a wonderful way to honor him.

If he can get past Berdych, and it looks like that may be tough, I think the circumstances will help him produce very best tennis in the final. Sometimes a personal tragedy like this can bring out inner resources you never knew you had.

He’s conducted himself with dignity and done well in a difficult situation. My condolences to him.

Last night, while Novak was warming up with Haase, Vajda was calling him holding mobile phone in the hand and pointing to phone and telling something to Novak. At the end of the match I realize what was all about. Djole, the youngest of three, was in Nole’s box and he wasn’t at the begining of the match. He was rushed from Belgrade to Monte Carlo to be with brothers and the message from the family to Nole was clear, stay there and try to do it for Deda, that is what he would want you to do.
Good luck Nole tonight. I will not be able to watch but I know I will be secretly checking result on my mobile phone under the table and my wife is going get upset seeing me doing that. I don’t care I am sending you as much postive energy as I can. Stay focused and you will win. You are The Man.

Got back home on time to see my man winning.
This win and this final means lot to Nole in so many ways.
I hope tomorrow is going to be nice day and great match who ever wins. As for Nole, he is a winner regardless of tomorrow result.

Good for Nole: I wasn’t sure what to expect from his this week. It all positive in my opinion, even if he doesn’t win tomorrow, as he is defending nothing here, so he is gaining points he could lose if he doesn’t win elsewhere. Smart move to play this event. And he’ll get a shot at Rafa on clay here, which is closest to FO, so he’ll have a sense of things win or lose. Of course I am assuming Rafa will beat Simon which isn’t very nice to Simon. But I think it is a safe assumption. Tough conditions today.

congrats to jane,wogboy,nina,mat4,etc etc,Noles had a fantastic week,and imo the favourite for the title,after such emotional week for him,he fully deserves to be there,and without shadow of a doubt,is the worlds best player now,well done Nole.

nole is facing hard times,he is very emotional after his grandfather’s death,i don’t know how this guy is keep wining and wining even after such a big tragedy,i have never seen such a mentally strong man.
his grandpa death will inspire him to win this trophy for the first time,what a great gift that would be by nole to his beloved grandpa.
i want nole to win,obiously for emotional reasons and the amount of respect he has gained from me as a tennis fan
nadal is playing god like tennis,but everything will come fare and sqaure against novak
novak give it a go,give your grandpa the best tribute by winning(no offence to rafa fans though)

John as a Rafa fan no offence is taken honestly,Noles the fav imo,if or when he wins the title,he will deserve it fair and square,and for Rafa i wont feel too dissapointed anyway,after all 7 straight finals,and a 41 match un beaten streak,not too shabby for Rafa,the king of clay.

True racquet, but Nole has been broken a number of times, including four times by Hasse. Rafa is more of a threat to break than Robin methinks. But we’ll see. I just feel Rafa throughout the whole event has looked stronger. Of course there are reasons for that too. Maybe Nole will raise his game in the final. He often does. Should be a good one!

Heres hoping for a cracking final,have to disagree with Jane though,i think Noles so much more mentally stronger when facing Rafa,i did not see the match but Berdych is a great player,he showed that by the way he played against Murray,Nole showed great strength of character to come back,especially after been a set down,we could well be witnessing the new king of clay come tomorrow.

I know it’s a bit early but the Barcelona draw is out. The projected match-ups are, shall we say, “interesting” and a shake up from recent draws. We should probably hold off discussing until after the final tomorrow but thought I’d throw that teaser your way. ;)

On a positive note for rafa. Bjorn Borg, who is at the MC tourny this year, said he believes that rafa is the GREATEST on clay in the history of the game, not just present. I am a rafa fan, so I won’t deny the bias, BUT the numbers do say that Borg maybe right in what he says. Either way, it must be nice for rafa to know that his ONLY rival to this title thinks that highly of his game.

@jane, Alison: LOL I agree. Re the final: I wouldn’t say their is an outright fav really. It all depends on how each posters sees the given scenario. Me personally, I have decided that UNTIL rafa actually beats nole, I’ll just expect nole to win when they meet. In this tourny nole has looked patchy, BUT to me that’s not because of how his game is atm it’s more to do with his private scenario. With Rafa, he’s improving BUT isn’t at the peak of his clay game yet. I think The weather will matter ALOT. Hope it isnt windy.

Think about the Ramos betters that backed him v Gasquet at Indian Wells! I read all this stuff on the chat streams. Some people are very lucky and who knows if they have some inside info – injury stuff or whatever. There’s an Italian chatter that gets it right a lot picking underdogs.

Right now it’s a slightly closer edge to Nadal 1.69; Djokovic at 2.15 down from 2.5. The Berdych win reduced the pay out. With such odds it’s not worth a bet either way, imo, unless you have hundreds and thousands to blow.

Serious betters are heartless. they care nothing for the tennis/ are not attached to players – just focused on the money. and boy do they complain! lol I learn all kinds of stuff on the live chats. Can identify x-rated wording in many languages now.

carlo, funny stuff about the live chats. I should check those out sometime for comic relief!

Nole echoes Borg, but it’s nice that he continues to have self-belief:

“Rafa is the player to beat here. He’s the best ever in the history of the sport on this surface. It’s an ultimate challenge. I need to play well from the first to the last. But why not believe that I can win?”

I think for Novak, will be very important to win tomorrow.If he wins,first clay tournament he will have enormous mental advantage over nadal for this whole clay season.If he looses, table may start turning in Nadal-Novak rivaly…Who is gonna win tomorrow?Head says Nadal, heart says Novak…

racquet, just looked at that draw: it really is a shake-up. It’s Murray who has all the Spaniards on his side – F-Lo (I guess Judy might come watch if that match happens ;)), Ferrer, Almagro, the whole Armada. Meanwhile, Rafa has Tipsy, Nishikori, Berdych, Anderson. I guess he has a few Armada too, like Hotsauce and Pablo-honey.

jane, yes it is an armada. Raonic is also lurking in his half – maybe they can cash in that rain check from Miami. I like a little shake-up in draws once in a while. Let Nadal deal with Berdy this time! ;) Although Ferrer would be a good test, presuming he makes it that far.